Carlos Alcaraz and Serena Williams will line up together at Flushing Meadows on Tuesday, August 25, as the US Open hosts a star-studded gala tournament five days before the main singles draws begin on Sunday, August 30.
The Spanish star Alcaraz is making his return to competitive tennis after missing both Roland-Garros and Wimbledon with a right wrist injury suffered in April. He is paired in the reformed mixed doubles draw with former world number one Williams, who returned to competition in June following a break of nearly four years and is playing in New York for the first time since 2022, when she announced her intention to evolve away from the WTA tour.
Entering the draw as last-minute wildcard entries, Alcaraz and the 44-year-old Williams open their campaign on Tuesday against doubles specialists Erin Routliffe and Lloyd Glasspool.
Star Pairings and Mixed Doubles Reform
Current women's world number one Aryna Sabalenka has partnered with former men's circuit leader Novak Djokovic. They face Czech player Katerina Siniakova and Briton Henry Patten, who both hold world number one rankings in doubles, in Tuesday's first round.
The winner of that match could advance to face 39-year-old French veteran Gaël Monfils, who is preparing to play his final Grand Slam tournament, alongside his Ukrainian wife Elina Svitolina.
The mixed doubles tournament allocates Tuesday for first-round and quarter-final matches, followed by the semi-finals and final on Wednesday.
For the second consecutive year, US Open organizers have primarily invited high-profile singles stars to revitalize interest in mixed doubles. Tournament rules feature shortened sets where teams need only four games instead of six to win a set, except in the final, though traditional specialists Sara Errani and Andrea Vavassori of Italy still captured the title under the revised format in 2025.
Roger Federer Returns for Queens Exhibition
Five-time US Open champion Roger Federer will also take to the court in Queens on Tuesday evening for an exhibition match featuring American tennis legends Andy Roddick, Andre Agassi, and John McEnroe.
Speaking on Monday, the 45-year-old Swiss icon admitted that returning to play felt stressful, noting he had not played a single set since facing Hubert Hurkacz at Wimbledon five years ago. Federer added that he felt immense joy returning to a venue where he experienced so many highlights, describing the appearance as a true opportunity to say thank you and goodbye.
Federer retired from professional tennis at the Laver Cup in 2022 and never received a formal farewell match at Flushing Meadows. His final US Open appearance came in 2019, when he lost in the quarter-finals to Grigor Dimitrov, before knee injuries ruled him out of the 2020 and 2021 tournaments.
Addressing speculation about a potential return to professional competition, Federer offered a firm refusal, stating no, not at all, while thanking the interviewer and expressing relief at clarifying his position for anyone who held doubts.
